Anchorable refrigerator



Aug@ 30, 1938. v w.`F. KIRK ET AL 2,128,708

ANCHORABLE REFR I GERAT OR Fil-ed May 12, 1937 I g ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 30, 1938 ,rams

ANCHORABLE REFRIGERATOR William F. Kirk and John M. Kirk,

Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 12, 1937, serial No. 142,204

m 8 Claims.

This invention relates to transportable refrigerator structures and particularly that type of portableA container for perishables shown and described in the following United States Letters l Patent Nos. 2,094,522, 2,103,231 and 2,099,793.

One of the important aims of thepre'sent invention is. the provision of-especially designed anchoring structure for portable, transportable refrigerators, which anchoring structure will be 10.eifective in securing the'caselof the refrigerator against movement while the same is being carried from yplace to place in a motor truck or freight car.

Another, and more specic object of the pr'esent invention' is to provide anchoring structure for refrigerators of the aforementioned character that is veasy to operate, quickly movable to theloperative position, and is equipped with specially made hoor-engaging members and elements that will in no wise retard rapid movement of the case upon its rollers after the anchoring structure is disposed in an inoperative position.

A large number of minor objects of the inventionV will appear yduring the course of the `following specification referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary, .plan view of a refrigerator having anchoring structure made in accordance with the present invention.

m. Fig, 2 is a front, end elevation of the lower portion of a rrefrigerator 'having ythe anchoring structure shown in Figure 1 disposed in the operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed sec- "tional View through a portion of the refrigerator taken on line III-III of Fig. 1, and

Fig. Llis 'a similar view taken along line IV-IV l of Fig. 1.

Case i6 of the refrigerator has rollers 60 on the 40Jbottom thereof so that the same may be moved to and from `a loaded position. -While rollers 60 mustl be eifective'in permitting movement of case l0, their tendency to permit the case to move while the refrigerator is being transported `ilin a box car or motor `truck must be overcome by positively acting anchoring structure.

Referring speciiically to the form of anchoring structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to iinclusive, the numeral 62 designates a block that is swingably 5o journaled in the bearings 54 secured to the bottom of case I0. Block 62 should be on the center line of case i6 and be free to move with the exception of the yielding force exerted thereon through the medium of springs 6B which constantly have a tendency to move the entire anchoring struc- (Cl. 248-119) y ture upwardly to an inoperative-position. Block 62 has a leaf spring 68 attached thereto through the'use of conventional U-bolts or the like ll and spring 08 extends outwardly on each side of blockEiZ toward the sides of case i0. This 5 spring 68 is built up of flat spring members as illustrated in Figure l. so that flexing in either direction will create the same action so far as absorption of shock is concerned. The outer ends of spring 00 each carry aclevis l0 and these clevises are joinedto the `floor-engaging elements through the use of brackets l2. AThe mechanism just mentioned is the same at each end of spring 63 and at each end the clevis "lli is pivotally connected to spring B8 by a pin lt, the axis. whereof 15 is at right angles to the axis of pin l0 which interconnects clevis 'l0 and brackets l2. The floor-engaging elements and parts in this instance are made up of an angle bar l provided with holes 8l! and a number of clips 82 each hav- 20 l ing a spur Sli thereon, Any number of clips 82 may be femployed along the length of bar F3 and when this bar is dropped down against the supporting surface Biiof a floor or the like, spurs B4 grip 'said surface and nails't may be passed 25 i through holes 8o to further insure a rigid hold.

It is obvious that brackets 'I2 are secured directly to bar 'i8 and that after the hoor-engaging lements and parts are in the operative position, any tendency on the part of case lf to move 30 longitudinally in' a path perpendicular to the axis ofV spring rt3 will be overcome by said spring in a manner which will absorb force and shock and thereby eliminate destructive effects upon the floor-engaging elements and parts. thereby maintained in position with a yielding force that not only is conducive to the protection 0f perishables within case it but is. helpful in prolonging the life of the anchoring' structure.

Springs will draw the' entire anchoring struc- 40 ture up off of iioor 0@ when spurs Bil and nails 83 areA withdrawn;l Notches 90 provide clearance for the anchoringstructure in cases of the character illustrated and the bumper 92 which normally constitutes a part of case it should be 45 sectional 'as illustrated inFigs. land 2 to presentl a series of openings Sill through which a hammer or other tool may pass when driving nails 88 into licor 80.

Clips 82 provide spacers for bar 'i8 so that when 50 and if nails 88 are employed, the lower surface of bar 'i3 will not be forced so tightly against sur-V face 86 that a pinch bar or other tool could not be employed in releasing the bar from the operable position. The relation between clips and 55 Case i6 is 35` spurs 82 and B2i respectively and nails 88, if used, is therefore, apparent and since most railroad companies require a definite blocking of such freight as case I6, only nails 88 need be supplied by the company when using anchoring structure made in accordance with this invention. Nails 88 l'and spurs 84 servepto preclude both longitudinal fand lateral movement of case I8 and as has been heretoforeset down,4 the inner positioning oflspring.. "58 between thefloor-engaging elementsfan'd parts. and the swingable members carried by case I6 absorbs some of the shock which would normally(n be transmitted to the floor-engaging elements.

.Anchoring structure such as has beenillustr'atedzf' fand described should be provided ateachend. of the refrigerator case I6 and Whensuch structure I is provided and the same is in the operative posi` tion it is assured that case I61willi1be maintained? immovable enough to satisfy all requirementspf, transportation.

Anchoring structure having physical character istics .other thanthose-illustrated .and described might be made to embody the .broad concepts of this invention and :it Ais,'therefor.e,4 desired vto be 2ilimited only `by the spiritvof the invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described'the invention what We. claim as new yand desire to secure Aby Letters .Patent is:

`l. In a refrigerator of the character described ments.

2. In a refrigerator of `the character described fand lfor therpurpose specified-having a case and 1 rollers on the .case Vrendering/the same mobile along a supporting floonthefcombination of anchoring structure comprisingmembers swingably' carried Ybythe :case .therebeneath floor-engaging elements;Y and-'a leaf spring` coupling together said swingablemembers andrsaid floorengaging;.

elements, said ispring having-connection with the floor-engagingelements `at the-ends thereof Y and having connectionfwithi'the swingable mern- 1 Aloers;intermediate its, ends Wherebyto` permit limited cushionedfmovement .of the casein two directions Awhen the floor-engaging yelements are in the` operative position.:l

3. Ina refrigeratorl of l.the characterdescribed and for the .purposespecieihaving a case and.

rollers on the -case rendering .the same vmobile along a supporting floor,. the. combination of' anchoring structure comprisinga leaf spring .secured intermediatew'itsmendsr tothe case; and

floor-engaging elements joined to the `spring at.

the ends thereof.`

4. In a refrigerator of the character described and for the purpose specied,f having a case and rollers on the case rendering the sam-e *mobi-le ITalong a supporting floor, the combination of anchoring structure comprising la leaf spring secured intermediate its ends to the case; a clevis carried by each end of the spring respectively; and floor-engaging elements on the clevises.

5. In a refrigerator of the character described and for the purpose specified, having a case and rollers on the case rendering the same mobile along a supporting floor, the combination of anchoring structure comprising a block swingably carriedv byn the case` therebeneath .at the-center thereof; a spring securedrintermediate lits ends to said block and extending to each side of the center ofthe case therebeneath; a floor-engaging bar substantially parallel to the spring; and a clevispcarried. by each end of the spring respectively, said clevises having pivotal connectonZWith the said bar.

6.v In a refrigerator of the character described and'for'th'e purposespecied, having a case and rollers on..the case rendering the same mobile along a supporting floor, the combination of anchoring structure comprising a-blockswingably carried =by the case therebeneathv at the center' thereof; aspring secured intermediate its ends to 1 said block and extendingto each side of thecenter of the case therebeneath; a floor-engagingbar substantially parallel to the spring; and a clevis carried by each end of the spring respectively,

said clevises having pivotal connection with the said bar, said bar being provided with spurs.

adapted to be driven into theiioor when the .bar is in'the operative position.

'7. In a refrigerator ofthe character described and for the purpose specified, having a case and:

rollers on the case rendering the same mobile along a Vsupporting licor,A the combinatlonof an` choring structure comprising a block swingably carried by the fcase therebeneath at the center thereof; aA spring securedintermediate vits ends tosaid'bl'ock and extending to each` side of the center of the case therebeneath; a floor-engaging barsubstantially parallel to the spring; and al clevis carried by each end of the spring respec-v tively, saidclevises having pivotal connection with-the said. bar, said bar beingprovided With V a plurality of holes therethroughfor the vreception of floor-piercing units.

8. In a refrigerator Yof the character described and for the purpose specified. having a casev and i rollers on the casezrendering .the same mobile along a supporting floor, the combination of anchoring structure comprising a block swingably carried by the caseA therebeneathat the center' thereof; a spring secured intermediate its ends to said block'and extending to each side of the center of .the case .therebeneath; a floor-engaging bar substantially parallel to the spring; and a clevis"` carried lby each end of the spring respectively, said clevises having pivotal connect-ion with the said bar, each of said clevises having pivotal connections with the. said spring, the axis of the pivot between each clevis and the spring being perpendicular with and offset from the axis of the pivot between thatclevis and the bar.

WILLIAM F. KIRK. JOHN M. KIRK. 

